Santa Claus
| Santa Claus | |
|---|---|
 Santa Claus in the The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! episode "Koopa Klaus" | |
| General information | |
| Full name | Saint Nicholas |
| Species | Human |
| Appearances | |
| First appearance | Saturday Supercade - "A Christmas Story" (1983) |
| Latest appearance | Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (2009) |
- “Toad, in all my life, I've never seen anyone express the true Spirit of Christmas better than you!”
- —Santa Claus, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
Santa Claus also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary character originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts to children on Christmas Eve of toys and candy or coal or nothing, depending on whether they are "naughty or nice." Santa Claus lives in a home near his workshop at the North Pole, where his elves make toys. Santa Claus also rides around in a reindeer-drawn sleigh, which can be dragged in the air.
Santa is generally depicted as a portly, jolly, white-bearded man, often with spectacles, wearing a red coat with white fur collar and cuffs, white-fur-cuffed red trousers, red hat with white fur, and black leather belt and boots, carrying a bag full of gifts for children. He is commonly portrayed as laughing in a way that sounds like "ho ho ho."
In the Mario franchise, Santa has appeared several times in the television shows and Club Nintendo comics, which make up a majority of his appearances. Santa's first overall appearance is in the Saturday Supercade episode "A Christmas Story." In the games, Santa has been frequently alluded to but has almost never made any direct appearances.
Game history
Wrecking Crew
In Wrecking Crew, Santa is one of the prizes similar to the Golden Hammer.
This section is a stub. You can help Mariopedia by expanding it.
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Although Santa does not appear in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, its Nintendo Player's Guide notes that Smithy's first form resembles a "diabolical Santa Claus."
Super Mario series
Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS
Santa Claus is mentioned very briefly in Super Mario 64 and its Nintendo DS remake, Super Mario 64 DS. His name is stated on the sign near the cabin at the top of Cool, Cool Mountain, where it can be seen that the Cabin Proprietor wrote "Santa Claus isn't the only one who can go down the chimney!"
Super Mario Odyssey
In Super Mario Odyssey, a Crazy Cap costume based on Santa Claus consisting of the Santa Hat and Santa Outfit was released on November 21, 2018. If Mario wears the Santa Hat, he also wears Santa's beard. Goombas and Ty-Foos in the Snow Kingdom also wear Santa Hats.
Paper Mario series
Paper Mario
In Paper Mario, if Mario chooses to sleep in the Toad House in Shiver City, he will occasionally wake-up to find several Mushrooms and an Ultra Shroom in the Toad House; the Toad caretaker of the Toad House also implies that it may have been Santa Claus who left Mario these gifts.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
If Mario talks to a Bandit on the East side of Rogueport, the bandit claims that he saw "a guy jumping from roof to roof" and said he was "sneaking into chimneys".
Super Paper Mario
In Super Paper Mario, one of the questions Boomer the Pixl asks Mario is if he ever stays up at night wondering if anyone gives presents to Santa Claus.
The Legend of Zelda series
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
In The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, similar to many of the Mario games, Santa is only mentioned. Outside of Holly's House is a sign welcoming Santa. If Link enters Holly's house through the chimney, Holly gets startled, as she initially thought that the noise from her chimney was Santa. Holly then gives Link a Shovel and instructs him to clear the snow from her walkway.
Mario & Luigi series
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga / Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions
In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and its remake Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, Hermie III mistakes Mario for Santa Claus, even though Mario is a well-known Superstar.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
The Hollijolli Mayor of Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time is a reference to a Santa for the Toads, being the mayor of the winter-themed Hollijolli Village and even getting stuck in a chimney while wearing a red costume with white beard and having a Toad-like appearance.
Mario Party 7
In Mario Party 7, there is a Bowser Time event exclusive to Neon Heights wherein Bowser will refer to himself as "Santa Bowser," before stealing either ten coins from every player, or a Star from the player in the lead. Bowser will then order Koopa Kid to add the loot to the Treasure Chest on the board that already contains either the Star or twenty coins, noting that the player who claims the prize is getting a bonus out of it.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
Santa Claus appears as a VIP member in the Wii version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games during the month of December. He gives out 300 Star Tokens rather than 100 like the other VIP members.
Mario Kart series
Mario Kart Tour
- “Santa! Ho ho ho!”
- —Mario (Santa), Mario Kart Tour
Mario and Bowser dressed in Santa Claus costumes, with the former using its Santa Hat and Outfit from Super Mario Odyssey, were introduced in the 2019 and 2020 Winter Tours respectively in Mario Kart Tour as High-End drivers, referred to as Mario (Santa) and Bowser (Santa).
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
In Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, one of the outfits in the game that Mario and Luigi can use is a Santa outfit, which is the same Santa Hat and Outfit from Super Mario Odyssey that previously appeared in Mario Kart Tour, only recolored green for Luigi.
Appearances in other media
Saturday Supercade
"A Christmas Story"
Though Santa himself appears only briefly toward the end of "A Christmas Story," he is alluded to constantly throughout the episode. Mr. Anderson also reveals that he is Santa's remote helper. In the aforementioned appearance at the end of the episode, Santa appears while actively riding his sleigh, waving at Donkey Kong Jr., Bones, Mr Anderson, and the redeemed Hobo brothers while wishing them all a merry Christmas.
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
"Koopa Klaus"
In "Koopa Klaus", King Koopa freezes Santa's workshop, and dresses up as Santa himself, calling himself "Koopa Klaus". Koopa Klaus then kidnaps Santa, and attempts to ruin Christmas, but Mario and his friends rescue Santa. Santa is happy to be saved, but remarks that he can not make any toy deliveries since his workshop is still frozen. Princess Toadstool urges Toad to cheer Santa up by giving him his beloved snowboard for Christmas which the retainer does with no regrets. Upon offering his snowboard, Santa becomes so touched by the kindness expressed by Toad that the warmth of holiday cheer melts Santa's workshop. Santa then delivers presents and lets Mario and friends ride with him.
"Santa Claus is Coming to Flatbush"
In the live-action segment "Santa Claus is Coming to Flatbush," Santa turned up at Mario Brothers Plumbing on Christmas Eve because someone had stolen his "transportation." As he used the name Nick in this episode, Mario and Luigi never concluded that he was Santa Claus, despite obvious, subliminal messages throughout his stay. Worn out and tired, Mario and Luigi felt obligated to take in the stranger on Christmas Eve, and treated him to both their dinners, despite having very little to eat.
After the CooKoo Bird announced the midnight hour on Christmas Day, Mario and Luigi rushed to open their presents, but they looked back at Nick. Feeling sorry for Nick, they offered their presents to him, who was grateful to be receiving presents on Christmas for once.
In the morning, Mario and Luigi woke up to see that although Nick had left during the night, he left behind presents for the brothers, along with a note stating that the cops had found his transportations. Mario and Luigi then saw Santa Claus ride by the basement window on his sleigh, but had serious doubts that their visitor was actually Santa Claus.
Super Mario World television series
"The Night Before Cave Christmas"
Although Santa Claus himself never appeared on the Super Mario World animated series, Mario did dress up as him to help emulate the spirit of Christmas for the Cave People during the episode "The Night Before Cave Christmas". Dressed as Santa, Mario eventually sets out to deliver toys to all of the cave children in a Winged Yoshi-drawn sleigh.
"Rock TV"
Additionally, in the episode "Rock TV", Mario remembers an outlandish phone bill he got back in Brooklyn from calling the "Speak to Santa Hotline", which seems to let users talk to Santa himself.
Club Nintendo
"Super Mario: Die Bescherung"
In "Super Mario: Die Bescherung", Mario and his friends throw a Christmas party. Shortly after Mario leaves the house, a man dressed as Santa Claus, but otherwise resembling Mario, enters it. Most of the guests are expecting that he is Mario dressed as Santa Claus. However, in this moment Mario joins the party again, astonishing the skeptical guests.
"Warios Weihnachtsmärchen"
Three years later, a man looking almost exactly as Santa Claus in "Die Bescherung", was seen in the comic "Warios Weihnachtsmärchen". However, Wario calls him Mario and he does not correct him, so in this comic it was just Mario dressed as Santa Claus.
"Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24"
A differently-looking Santa Claus also appeared at the end of the story "Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24", joining the Kongs' Christmas party and bringing gifts. He also mentions that he is surprised to see Earth back in its original position (in the story, aliens accidentally pulled the planet away from the sun, and the Kongs convinced them to return it).
List of appearances
| Title | Year of release | Release medium | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Supercade - "A Christmas Story" | 1983 | Television | Mentioned throughout the episode, and briefly appears at the end |
| Wrecking Crew | 1985 | Nintendo Entertainment System | Featured as one of the prizes |
| The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! - "Koopa Claus" | 1989 | Television | Featured as a major character |
| The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (live-action) - "Santa Claus is Coming to Flatbush" | 1989 | Television | Featured as a major character |
| Super Mario World - "The Night Before Cave Christmas" | 1991 | Television | Mario dresses as Santa, who is also mentioned throughout |
| Super Mario World - "Rock TV" | 1991 | Television | Mentioned |
| Club Nintendo - "Super Mario: Die Bescherung" | 1992 | Comic | A character is dressed like Santa Claus |
| Club Nintendo - "Warios Weihnachtsmärchen" | 1995 | Comic | Mario is seen dressed as Santa at the end |
| Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars Nintendo Player's Guide | 1996 | Book | Mentioned |
| Club Nintendo - "Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24" | 1996 | Comic | Appears during the ending |
| Super Mario 64 | 1996 | Nintendo 64 | Mentioned on a sign by the Cabin Proprietor |
| Paper Mario | 2000 | Nintendo 64 | Mentioned by a Toad |
| The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons | 2001 | Game Boy Color | Mentioned by Holly and on a sign outsider her house |
| Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga | 2003 | Game Boy Advance | Mentioned by |
| Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door | 2004 | Nintendo GameCube | Implied by a Bandit but not mentioned by name |
| Super Mario 64 DS | 2004 | Nintendo DS | Mentioned on a sign by the Cabin Proprietor |
| Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time | 2005 | Nintendo DS | The Hollijolli Mayor is based on Santa Claus |
| Mario Party 7 | 2006 | Nintendo GameCube | During a Bowser Time event specific to Neon Heights, Bowser refers to himself as "Santa Bowser" |
| Super Paper Mario | 2007 | Wii | Mentioned by Boomer |
| Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games | 2009 | Wii | Featured as a VIP member during the month of December |
| Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions | 2017 | Nintendo 3DS | Mentioned by Hermie III |
| Super Mario Odyssey (version 1.2.0) | 2018 | Nintendo Switch | There is a Crazy Cap costume based on Santa Claus |
| Mario Kart Tour (Winter Tour) | 2019 | iOS/Android | Featured as a costume for Mario and Bowser, with the latter only receiving the outfit by the 2020 Winter Tour |
| Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit | 2020 | Nintendo Switch | Featured as one of the outfits for both Mario and Luigi |
Gallery
-
Santa Claus briefly seen in the December 2019 LINE calendar
External links
- Santa Claus on Wikipedia
